Age Is Just A Number! 44-Year-Old Businessman and Father of Eight Joins Young Pupils to Sit PLE 2026

At an age when many people have already completed their education and settled into their careers, 44-year-old businessman Saidi Bateganya is taking a different path by returning to the classroom to sit the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). His decision has attracted attention because he is sitting the same examinations as thousands of children who are young enough to be his grandchildren.

Bateganya joined other candidates at Noor Islamic Primary School in Iganga Municipality on Monday, November 3, to sit the national examinations, marking an important milestone in his personal education journey. Despite the obvious age difference between him and most of the candidates, he appeared determined to complete a stage of education that he had left unfinished many years ago.

What makes his story even more interesting is that Bateganya is not just a student returning to school. He is an established businessman, a father of eight children and a husband to two wives. At a stage when many people in his position might consider education a closed chapter, he has chosen to return to the examination room and pursue his academic ambitions.

His decision is reportedly connected to his future political ambitions. Bateganya believes completing his education will help him move closer to his dream of joining political leadership, with aspirations that he hopes to pursue in the coming years. For him, sitting PLE is therefore not simply about obtaining a primary school certificate but about preparing for bigger opportunities ahead.

His presence among much younger candidates has also provided an unusual moment during this year's PLE examinations. While most candidates are children preparing to transition to secondary school, Bateganya is taking the examinations with a different life experience, having already built a family and established himself in business.

His journey sends a message that people should not allow age, family responsibilities or past interruptions to prevent them from pursuing their dreams. It also demonstrates that the desire to learn can remain alive even after someone has spent several years away from the classroom.

The 2026 PLE examinations began on November 3, bringing together thousands of candidates from different parts of Uganda as they complete their primary education. While the majority are young pupils, Bateganya's participation has added an unusual and inspiring dimension to this year's examination season.

For the 44-year-old businessman, the examination room represents another opportunity to rewrite his personal story. Whether his future ambitions eventually lead him into political office or not, his decision to return to school has already demonstrated one important lesson: education has no age limit, and it is never too late to pursue a dream.